Loneliness A Hazard To Health, Research Says

It’s common for some people to feel lonely this time of year as others gather with family over the holidays. However, research suggests the line between “being alone” and “being lonely” is subtle but significant.

Elizabeth Bernstein, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, said that loneliness can even be hazardous to people's health.

“Being chronically lonely is more dangerous to your health than alcoholism or a 15-cigarette-a-day habit," she said. "That’s pretty dangerous.”

Bernstein said this is in part because more people are living alone nowadays. Also, as Baby Boomers age, friends and loved ones are passing away. Finally, modern technology might be contributing to loneliness.

“All this time that we spend behind our screens, connecting, searching Facebook, doing whatever it is … doesn’t allow us much time with people, making actual connections,” Bernstein said.

To break the cycle of loneliness, Bernstein suggests coming to terms with the loneliness first.

“You have to tell yourself it is OK to be lonely,” Bernstein said.

Next, she said it’s important to find things the person likes to do -- even if they go on to do it by themselves.

“Take yourself to the restaurant and sit at the bar, talk to the bartender. There’s things you can do to be around people, and usually if you’re around people and you want to talk, you’ll end up talking,” Bernstein said.

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